Injury-hit St Albans Centurions were on the wrong side of a drubbing from defending league champions Bedford Tigers.

Herts Advertiser: Simba Muphamanga on the chargeSimba Muphamanga on the charge (Image: Archant)

The Toulmin Drive rugby league club made the trip to Putnoe Woods in Bedford without seven first-team regulars and came away with a 72-10 defeat.

Such was the Tigers dominance that they were three tries up in 15 minutes and the Centurions still had to complete their first full set of six tackles.

St Albans were unable to kill the ball off in the tackles, as every single Tigers player that carried the ball forwards was backed up by one, two or three support players.

The Cents were unable to settle under the constant pressure with the only highlight in the first half was when Sam Allen, on his rugby league debut scored with a blistering burst of speed down the sideline.

Herts Advertiser: Jake McLoughlin, Brad Webber and Joe Shaw in the defensive lineJake McLoughlin, Brad Webber and Joe Shaw in the defensive line (Image: Archant)

The second half was just like the first, the only difference was that the Cents looked more composed and organised in defence, and they needed to be as the well drilled Bedford team just kept coming at them.

Allen was growing in confidence and put in several good attacking runs from his own half, one of which paid off in another, converted try for him.

But the home team ran in several more tries against a Cents team that had picked up several more injuries to players.

Cents first team manager Tony Bottomley said: “It was a very bad day at the office. You cannot come to play a class side like Bedford with players missing and players carrying injuries and compete.

“But there are no excuses, you turn up and you play, and today we were soundly beaten by a very good side.

“We will be disecting this game in training this week and hopefully next week will have a few of our missing players back.”

St Albans play North Herts Crusaders at Toulmin Drive on Saturday.